Steve Kramer grew up in Atlantic City, graduated from Johns Hopkins in 1967, adopted the hippie lifestyle until 1973, then joined the family business for 15 years. Steve moved to Israel from Margate, NJ in 1991 with his family. He has written more than 1100 articles about Israel and Jews since making Aliyah. Steve and his wife Michal live in Kfar Saba.
By Stephen Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — After the latest collapse of negotiations with the Palestinians, Ya’ir Lapid, Israel’s Minister of Finance and leader of the left of Center Yesh Atid (There is a Future) political party, said that the extreme Right prefers to wait for the Messiah instead of reaching a solution. Will it […]
Many Mideastern scenarios are possible Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Numerous times over the past 17 years our town of Alfe Menashe has hosted members of the large Wisconsin church, Christ the Rock. Every two or three years the church, under the leadership of Bill Lenz, brings a busload of congregants to the Holy Land. The wife of our
Christians visit strategic Israeli town Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel –In an article published in April 2009, I wrote the following [with added comments]: “Iran couldn’t be more blatant in calling for Israel’s destruction. This it proclaims loud and clear, from many venues, including New York City, home of the United Nations. That Iran also wishes to destroy America
Iran’s nuclear program, then and now Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel –What’s significant about October, 1943? During that month the Danes carried out an unprecedented rescue of Jews from deportation to Nazi concentration camps. Werner Bachmann recently told a rapt audience at a recent Forgotten People Fund luncheon in Netanya, “I was meant to be one of those murdered by
Denmark’s once-proud history recalled Read More »
International, Jewish History, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — I’ve written several times about America’s shrinking international stature. President Obama is leading the charge in this direction, which is a product of the growing energy independence of North America and the growing inclination of Americans to withdraw from troublesome situations far from home. Obviously, this “pivot,” to
America’s Mideast reversal pays Russia dividends Read More »
International, Steve Kramer
By Steven Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel –Those familiar with my articles have become accustomed to reading relatively detailed descriptions of our short visits all over Israel. What if you are planning a 10-day trip to Israel, with so much to see? It’s hard to work out and choose an itinerary. Linda, my wife Michal’s sister,
Sightseeing and eating through Israel Read More »
Steve Kramer, Travel and FoodBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel–Avi Shavit is a native-born Israeli Zionist and peace activist. He is also a respected columnist for Ha’aretz newspaper, Israel’s most left wing newspaper. A leading Israeli author, Shavit published his best-selling My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel in 2013. It has become a bestseller. Here’s an
‘My Promised Land,’ well written but uneven Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer
By Steve Kramer KIBBUTZ GESHER, Israel — Michal and I recently joined a full busload of hikers for a wonderful 8-mile trek sponsored by the English Speaking Residents Association (www.esra.org.il). It was just before Tu B’Shvat, the Jewish new year for trees. We couldn’t have picked a more perfect day to be among the hills,
A Jordan Valley hike to Kibbutz Gesher Read More »
Steve Kramer, Travel and FoodSecond of Series By Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel –There are wide cultural differences between the religious Arab world and the secular Western world, which most Western countries fail to comprehend. Surprisingly, the West refuses to recognize that the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) is an Islamist organization which promotes an Islamic takeover throughout Arabia and then
Getting a handle on new Middle East, Part II Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerFirst of Two Parts By Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Despite the recent conventional wisdom that America “could not drill itself out of energy dependence,” North America is estimated to be on the verge of doing just that. I believe that this fact is having important consequences for America’s foreign policy and Israel’s perpetually
Getting a handle on the new Middle East, Part I Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — It’s not just the Arabs, Iran, the United Nations and the EU which present Israel with problems. There are internal ones as well. I’m not talking about a lack of democracy or sidelining of minorities or the shrinking middle class. Israel is one of the most vibrant democracies
Why other Israelis think haredim are chutzapadik Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer
By Steve Kramer SHUNI FORTRESS, Israel — Ephraim, originally from Wisconsin, and his sabra wife, Rimona, bought a lovely home on a building lot in Aviel last year. Aviel is a small, pastoral moshav (agricultural cooperative) near the towns of Zichron Yaacov and Binyamina. Our good friends and former neighbors love being in the country,
Archaeology, art, history await at Shuni Fortress Read More »
Steve Kramer, Travel and FoodBy Steve Kramer Alan Dershowitz is one of the brightest and most quoted law professors in America. He recently announced his plans to retire from the faculty of Harvard Law School, one of America’s most eminent educational establishments. I haven’t always agreed with Dershowitz, who said last year that Israel should offer to freeze all
Alan Dershowitz’s brief for Israel Read More »
Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KIBBUTZ KETURA, Israel — Michal and I, together with our friends, recently spent a long weekend on this kibbutz in the Negev Desert. The trip was sponsored by their beit knesset, the Masorti (Conservative) Congregation of Ra’anana. A quote from its website: “The membership of Ra’anana Masorti is a successful mixture of
Exploring a kibbutz that is still Socialist Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer